Chapter 26
“The Dochukji who created your fake debt document has been apprehended and brought to the Ministry of Justice.”
Lee Hyang spoke, gently taking Yunseo's hand.
It was on the main floor between the east and west ondol rooms of Jaseon Hall.
There were several reasons why such a conversation was taking place on the main floor rather than in Bihyeon Pavilion.
Hongwi usually fell asleep by the half-guk of the hour of the monkey (8 PM).
Then Yunseo, who used to sing lullabies like 'Mommy, in the island's shade~', would also fall asleep next to Hongwi.
The reason this duty arrangement changed was because Lee Hyang believed that Yunseo had collapsed as if dead from fear due to the excessive workload of standing watch at night and performing various tasks during the day.
So, Lee Hyang ordered that Yunseo would be solely responsible for Hongwi's night watch, but the form of the watch would be changed to sleeping together next to Hongwi.
This decision also took into account Hongwi's extreme anxiety after witnessing Yunseo collapse.
Hongwi, perhaps genuinely afraid that Yunseo would die and disappear, had not wanted to leave Yunseo's side since that day.
At night, Hongwi could only fall asleep if Yunseo lay beside him and sang lullabies, and during the day, Hongwi would whine restlessly if Yunseo was out of sight.
With the Thousand Character Classic ceremony (a type of book completion event where the grandson is asked and answers questions about what he has learned in front of the King, royal family, and various ministers) scheduled for a month later, Hongwi wanted Yunseo to be by his side constantly, except for study time with his teacher, Seong Sammun, in the mornings.
The unconscious fear of losing his mother, Crown Princess Consort Kwon, seemed to have resurfaced as a fear of losing Yunseo, who was like a mother figure.
Therefore, Yunseo decided to stay by Hongwi's side day and night until Hongwi's anxiety subsided. With Lee Hyang's permission, Yunseo adjusted her work schedule to make Jaun-go and soap in vacant pavilions outside the East Palace during Hongwi's study hours.
Given the circumstances, the 'romance' Yunseo had agreed to with Lee Hyang would be difficult to find time for in the meantime.
For Yunseo, who had proposed the romance swept along by Lee Hyang's overwhelming affection, appearing like a savior during her process of overcoming extreme fear, this situation was, in a way, a relief.
Aside from liking Lee Hyang very much, Yunseo, who had lived as a free spirit from the 21st century, had too many things to consider about a future where she might be irrevocably tied down to the stifling life within the Palace by becoming a Concubine or Crown Princess.
And Yunseo still couldn't let go of the sliver of hope that the Crown Princess's ring, which had brought her soul to Joseon, might return her soul to the modern era once Grand Prince Suyang's power was finally eliminated, starting with the removal of Jeon Gyun.
The intense affection Yunseo developed for Hongwi in the unfamiliar Joseon was, in fact, a bulwark and a point of aspiration that sustained her life in Joseon, like a breath of fresh air.
Humans are social animals who feel they are living fully only when they are loved and can love.
For Yunseo, who had been suddenly cut off from those she had loved, Hongwi was an extremely lovable and vulnerable child, perfectly suited to fulfill her need for love, and it was a codependent relationship where Hongwi, too, could only deeply rely on Yunseo, who gave him love without reservation.
And in the hope that she might be able to return to the modern era if she successfully raised him to be a renowned monarch, Hongwi was also a goal-oriented presence for Yunseo.
However, Lee Hyang was different.
Admiring the exceptionally handsome Lee Hyang was akin to 'stan'ing a celebrity in modern times; it was similar to how one wouldn't have the insane thought of actually dating or marrying a celebrity they admired.
Furthermore, she couldn't help but worry about the emotional blow Lee Hyang would suffer, given his terrible luck with women, if she were to return to the modern era by wearing the ring after removing any obstacles to Hongwi's future.
If Lee Hyang continued to give her his unwavering affection, Yunseo worried if she could truly live properly if she returned to the modern era, leaving him behind.
After all, it is love that makes us most regret what we couldn't do.
Yunseo, who began to think clearly after drinking the medicinal decoction prepared by Lee Hyang through the Royal Physician's office, wanted to retract the impulsive romantic proposal she had made, swept up in the moment.
However, there was no way to retract the 'romance proposal' she had made first.
This was because when Lee Hyang summoned her to Bihyeon Pavilion after Hongwi fell asleep, Yunseo, prostrate and out of her mind with fear that day, had committed the impertinence of making a romantic proposal to His Highness without knowing her place. But now, fully aware of her humble status, she had earnestly pleaded that she could not commit the terrible rudeness of romance with His Highness.
"Then you committed the crime of deception, trifling with the Crown Prince without any feelings that day. Did you not ask me to close my eyes and kiss you yourself?"
Lee Hyang had rejected her outright.
She wanted to argue that it was a decision made impulsively, like that of an incompetent person, after extreme fear and confusion, but such a concept didn't exist in Joseon, so it would be useless.
So, she thought of Hongwi's anxiety.
When Yunseo said she couldn't leave the west ondol room for even a moment at night, in case Hongwi woke up and looked for her in distress due to her absence, Lee Hyang said,
"The weather is getting warmer, and I wanted to change the atmosphere a bit. From now on, I plan to work on the cool main floor of Jaseon Hall at night. Then, you can run to our Hongwi in just a few steps while you're in a relationship with me, can't you?"
He said this with a knowing smile.
From the next day, after finishing his daytime duties and returning to the East Palace, Lee Hyang brought all his work from Bihyeon Pavilion to the main floor.
And after Hongwi fell into a deep sleep, he would summon Yunseo and command her that it was time for 'romance.'
Fortunately (and sometimes regrettably), because the main floor was wide open, their romantic affections were limited to holding hands.
On this day, after the hour of the monkey had passed, Lee Hyang, who had summoned Yunseo, told her that the Dochukji gang who had threatened Yunseo by creating fake debt documents had been apprehended and brought to the Ministry of Justice.
"Were you successful in collecting fingerprints?"
Yunseo asked in surprise, and Lee Hyang shook his head.
"Fingerprint collection is currently in the experimental stage. This case utilized the fact that you, Yunseo, have no record of leaving the Palace on the date written in the document, nor before or after it."
"Ah!"
When a palace servant goes out, they must write down the reason and destination and receive an identification badge, and they must return by the appointed time to return the badge.
Once one becomes somewhat accustomed to Palace life and gains authority, they can, with the convenience of a superior, use a different reason for leaving the Palace, as Yunseo did five days prior. However, returning by the appointed time is an exception that must be observed without fail.
"Your adoptive father, who agreed to the contents of the fake debt document, has also been apprehended. Your stepsisters, who visited Hong Seunghwi's residence after entering the Palace, will also be summoned to the Ministry of Justice soon."
Lee Hyang spoke these words very cautiously, gently taking Yunseo's hand.
He was concerned that Yunseo might fear becoming a Consort, keeping in mind the tragedy of the Yeoheung Min clan of Queen Wonkyung, who were annihilated after being involved with the royal family, and the tragedy of the Cheongsong Sim clan of the current Queen.
If Yunseo were truly of 'Gwonga,' she might fear harm to her adoptive family. However, Yunseo was only Gwonga in body, and there was no reason to let the Choi family, who had exploited the unfortunate Gwonga so much and even tried to take her life, go unpunished.
Moreover, upon Yunseo's request to investigate the mastermind, Nosandae, who had been investigating, had recently conveyed through Maegeumi that the capital of the Yun clan, the maternal family of Grand Prince Suyang's wife, was involved behind the Dochukji.
This was a perfect opportunity to tie Dochukji in and tighten the financial noose around the Yun clan's capital!
Yunseo abandoned her stance of consistently ignoring Lee Hyang's ardent affections for several days, gently clasped Lee Hyang's hand, snuggled closer, and mustered all her charm to say,
"Your Highness, the Dochukji is a major shipowner at Mapo ferry, possessing several tribute rice ships that transport tribute rice and tribute goods from the three southern provinces to Mapo and Yongsan. His crimes are likely not limited to just forging debt documents, nor were they committed by him alone. Therefore, on this occasion, we must apprehend and punish him and the forces behind him, Your Highness."
"Hm?"
Lee Hyang, who was already planning to identify and apprehend those who intentionally sank tribute rice ships carrying tribute rice, and later salvaged them to embezzle the rice, as well as groups colluding with local magistrates to make exorbitant profits during tribute payments, looked at Yunseo in surprise.
This was because the behind-the-scenes forces involved were the highest influential families, including the Yun clan, the family of Grand Prince Suyang's wife, and the Han clan of Han Hwak, and the plan was being carried out in extreme secrecy.
"How do you know that, Yunseo?"
"I have my sources too, Your Highness. As a Palace Lady of the East Palace and a nanny to our Hongwi, how could I let go of someone who tried to deceive and harm me?"
Yunseo earnestly tightened her grip on Lee Hyang's hand and looked into his eyes seductively.
It was a calculated action, applying psychological experiments that show prolonged eye contact, gazing deeply into someone's eyes, is best for evoking feelings of love.
Lee Hyang, who had never paid close attention to women as he had no particular interest, had met everyone from high court officials and Ming envoys to wealthy merchants of Chang'an and lowly palace servants and stable boys, all striving fiercely for their own interests. He easily saw through her ploy.
'This must be what they call pillow talk.'
Lee Hyang smiled inwardly with satisfaction and shook his head, wanting to see more of Yunseo's cute antics.
"What makes your source so great? The fellow Dochukji is merely a shipowner with several fleets and a thug, who, using his brute force, colludes with unscrupulous people like your adoptive family to sell people like commodities."
Yunseo, who still held a strong image of Lee Hyang as a noble and wise ruler, comparable to King Sejong in history, could never have imagined he could act so nonchalantly.
Frustrated that Lee Hyang seemed indifferent to Grand Prince Suyang's faction, Hongwi's greatest rival, she ended up mentioning 'romance' herself.
"Your Highness, didn't I say I wanted to get to know you slowly through romance? If I feel that Your Highness will be a wise ruler who keenly observes various issues and eradicates the vermin that prey on the people's hardships, then perhaps I might feel even a little bit inclined to become the Consort or whatever it is Your Highness desires?"
Lee Hyang, who had finally succeeded in getting Yunseo to mention 'romance' – something she had previously dismissed by saying, "That day, I was out of my mind with fear of dying and spoke nonsense," – pulled the cushion Yunseo was sitting on forward.
Then, just as Yunseo had done that day, he cupped Yunseo's cheeks with his palms and whispered the same words.
"Didn't you say yourself that romance is about liking each other and expressing that affection, but it doesn't necessarily mean becoming a Consort or a Royal Concubine? I am merely the Crown Prince, and you are merely our Hongwi's nanny. We can meet like this, occasionally confirming our feelings,"
And then, leaning his face very close, just as Gwon Yunseo had done to him that day, he whispered again.
"Also, adult romance is like this, expressing feelings through actions. Close your eyes, Gwon Yunseo."
The next day, at the hour of the snake, Yunseo went to Cheonsu Hall for her postponed audience with King Sejong due to her illness.
